Veteran F1 racer makes shock move from pink to green ahead of next season

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is set to prolong his Formula One career by joining Aston Martin for the 2022-23 season. The 41-year-old Spaniard will replace Sebastian Vettel, who announced his retirement on Wednesday, July 27. Aston Martin announced on Monday that the racing side have signed Alonso to a multi-year deal.

“No one in Formula One today is demonstrating a greater vision and absolute commitment to winning, and that makes it a really exciting opportunity for me,” Alonso said of Aston Martin.

“I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the front, and I want to be part of an organization that is committed to learning, developing and succeeding.”

Heading into the next season, Alonso will be racing in his 20th season in F1. He won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and took two years off in 2019 and 2020 to race in other series, including runs at the Indy 500.

“I have witnessed the excitement in the engineering team and throughout the whole organization at the opportunity to work with Fernando," Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack said.

“We know that nearly everyone can learn from someone of Fernando's calibre and experience. We are confident that he will inspire everyone to lift their game.”

Aston Martin, whose other driver is Lance Stroll, son of owner Lawrence Stroll, is only ninth in the 10-team constructors' standings this season.

Alonso said he knows Lance and Lawrence well and they share the same “ambition and passion to succeed" in F1.

“We all appreciate that there is much to be done to get to the front and that we must apply all our energies in working together to find performance,” Alonso said.

“The passion and desire to perform that I have witnessed convince me to maintain my enjoyment and commitment to the sport. I intend to win again in this sport and therefore I have to take the opportunities that feel right to me.”

Alpine has been improving in recent seasons and sits fourth in the constructors' race. Alonso is 10th in the 20-driver standings. He joined Alpine in 2021 after his two-year break from the series.